60-Second Psych

Increase Your Creativity: Live Abroad

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:08 -0500

Recent research shows that people who have lived in a foreign country are more creative when it comes to solving problems. Christie Nicholson reports

Our Bodies, Our Brains

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 00:00:08 -0500

Recent studies have shown that moving our body in certain ways can improve our ability to think. Christie Nicholson reports

Obama's Message to Graduates

Mon, 18 May 2009 10:00:08 -0500

President Obama's message to Arizona State University grads matches new research on how to live a fulfilled and happy life. Christie Nicholson reports

Immorality and Twitter

Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:08 -0500

The other week headlines were crying out that Twitter, the microblogging platform, makes us immoral, but the study on which the claim was made did not mention social media. Christie Nicholson reports

Why Dating Doesn't Predict Marital Success

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:00:08 -0500

Scientists confirm what may seem obvious to some: what satisfies us in dating, does not predict how happy we'll be in marriage. Christie Nicholson reports

When Do Dreams Begin?

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:00:08 -0500

Recent research from the American Institute of Physics has found that the our dreaming sleep begins much earlier than previously thought. Christie Nicholson reports

Hope for Spinal Cord Injuries

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 09:00:08 -0500

A paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA reports success in repairing damaged nerves in a system critical for human movement. Christie Nicholson reports

Why Cops Make Fatal Errors

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:08 -0500

New research suggests that a police officer's ability to multitask influences the number of wrongful shootings. Christie Nicholson reports

Sylvia Plath's Son and Suicide in Families

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:00:08 -0500

The recent suicide of Sylvia Plath's son, Nicholas Hughes, makes us question whether suicidal tendency runs in families. But the science remains complex. Christie Nicholson reports

Wiping Out Bad Memories

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:00:08 -0500

Research published in the journal Science last week shows the successful obliteration of a specific memory in mice. Christie Nicholson reports

Where Is God?

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:08 -0500

Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA provides support to the critics of the idea that a God spot exists in the brain. Christie Nicholson reports

Online Games as Study Tool

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 09:00:08 -0500

An interdisciplinary research group called the "Virtual Worlds Exploratorium" has started to analyze data from the online game EverQuest II, in order to find out more about real-life human behavior. Christie Nicholson reports

Thinking of Human as Machine

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:08 -0500

It will be a long time before machines can be "more human than human," as scientists are just starting to decode what happens inside our brains as we recognize a spoken word. Christie Nicholson reports.

Women as Sex Objects

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:05:08 -0500

A new study presented at the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago shows that when men see photos of scantily clad women their brain registers the women as objects to be acted on. Christie Nicholson reports

The Scent of Sexual Sweat

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 17:00:08 -0500

Do you like the scent of your Valentine? The Journal of Neuroscience reports that certain regions in women's brains are activated when they smell "sexual sweat." Christie Nicholson reports

Muscle Movement Affects How We Hear

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:00:08 -0500

The area of the brain responsible for movement plays a larger role than previously thought in how we hear speech. Christie Nicholson reports

When an Innocent Confesses to a Crime

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:00:08 -0500

New research shows the persuasive power of a false confession. It seems the confession itself can corrupt other evidence that may excuse a defendant. Christie Nicholson reports

Surviving a Plane Crash

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:08 -0500

We might think near-death experiences leave survivors, such as those on US Airways Flight 1549, forever suffering from post-traumatic stress and fear, but research concludes otherwise. Christie Nicholson reports

The Persistence of Racism

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:00:08 -0500

Recent research concludes that although people predict they will react negatively to racial slurs, their behavior proves otherwise. Christie Nicholson reports

A Blind Man Sees

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:00:08 -0500

A recent paper in Current Biology provides one of the few human cases of blindsight, the ability for perceptively blind people to respond to visual stimuli, even though they have no awareness of seeing anything. Christie Nicholson reports.

Great Expectations for 2009

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:00:08 -0500

Multiple experiments by Duke University professor Dan Ariely reveal how our expectations hugely influence our decisions, and ultimately, our experiences. Christie Nicholson reports

Beware the Holiday Sugar High

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:00:08 -0500

Recent research concludes that parents significantly overestimate how sugar affects their children's hyperactive behavior. Susannah F. Locke reports.

Gift-Giving for Lovers

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Research suggests that women don't seem to mind if they receive the less-than-perfect gift. Men, on the other hand, are a different story. Susannah F. Locke reports

To Get Good Grades, Get Good Sleep

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 12:00:08 -0500

Research suggests that college students don't get enough sleep, and that they are far better off sleeping than cramming for exams. Steve Mirsky reports

Cyberchondria: Online Diagnosis Leads to Obsessive Fear

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 12:00:08 -0500

Beware using the Web for self-diagnosis, you'll probably end up with a lot of unnecessary stress, according to a recent study by Microsoft. Christie Nicholson reports

Eat, Exercise and Be Merry

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:50:08 -0500

Research shows that people who write down what they are grateful for may exercise more. Rachel Mahan reports

Beating Loneliness at Its Own Game

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Researchers have found that indulging in feelings of nostalgia curiously combat the sad feelings that accompany loneliness. Christie Nicholson reports

A Bitter Placebo to Swallow

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:50:08 -0500

Research shows that the items surrounding a successful medical treatment, like the type of drink we use to wash down a pill, can sometimes be as effective as the pill itself. Christie Nicholson reports

More Sex for Women?

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 00:00:08 -0500

A recent analysis of survey responses shows who's cheating: Women, young couples and the over-60 crowd are closing the infidelity gap. Rachel Mahan reports

The Real Monsters on Halloween

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:08 -0500

A study shows that young children have a tough time knowing if monsters are real or pretend. Christie Nicholson reports.

Restoring Movement in Paralyzed Limbs

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:40:08 -0500

A study published in Nature shows how an artificial connection restores movement in paralyzed limbs. Christie Nicholson reports

Cell Phones Sometimes Cause Real Pain

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:30:08 -0500

People increasingly complain of being "electrosensitive," claiming that the electromagnetic fields emitted from mobile phones cause them real pain. Christie Nicholson reports

Musicians Think Differently from the Rest of Us

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 11:45:08 -0500

New research shows that musicians simultaneously use both sides of their brain more often than nonmusicians

Business, Lies and E-mail

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:00:08 -0500

New research finds that business students lie more often in e-mail than when communicating using pen and paper. Christie Nicholson reports

Exposed Untruths Continue to Shape Voter Impressions

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Misinformation on the campaign trail, once disseminated, is hard to undo--especially when it reinforces one's preconceptions. Christie Nicholson reports

Spooky Science: Does a Fear of Ghosts Help Keep Us Honest?

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Does the fear of "someone watching" help put us on the straight and narrow path?

Observers of Walking Figures See Men Advancing, Women in Retreat

Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:00:08 -0500

When viewing figures walking, a curious illusion appears. People perceive male strollers as moving toward them, whereas the female walkers appear to be moving away, regardless of the figure's actual direction. Christie Nicholson reports

Is Fidelity in our Genes?

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 17:10:08 -0500

A gene that promotes monogamy in rodents may do the same in humans. Researchers think variation in this gene may help predict your man's ability to commit

Hotel Guests Throw in the Towel on the Environment

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:08 -0500

When it comes to using towels in hotels, it's herd mentality, not eco-principles, that leads patrons on a greener path. Christie Nicholson reports

For Online Consumption, the Web Is All About Cool

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:29:08 -0500

Back in 2006 the concept of the "long tail" stated that the Web will turn consumers into lovers of niche products and services, and that the days of the blockbuster are over. But the data tell a different story. Christie Nicholson reports

Olympic Gold Medal: Is the Body Language of Triumph (or Defeat) Biological?

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:00:08 -0500

A study published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA concludes that our reaction to Olympic victory is innate. Christie Nicholson reports

Rest Assured: The Brain Practices the Day's Lessons as We Sleep

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Studies show we may be doing a lot more than just resting while we sleep. In fact the brain is hard at work, consolidating, sifting and moving the information we acquired during the day. Christie Nicholson reports

A study shows prescription OD accidents are on the rise

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:00:08 -0500

A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine shows that fatal medicinal mistakes at home rose substantially in two decades. Christie Nicholson reports

A Whiff of Disaster, Dulled by Dopamine

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Research published in Nature Neuroscience uncovers a remarkable mechanism a female mouse uses to save her babies from dangerous miscarriage.

Dicey Proposition: Animals Are Self-Aware

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Researchers continue to search for a way inside the mind of an animal. One promising study looked at monkeys that make bets

E-Therapy: Working It Out Online

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:08 -0500

A new study in The American Journal of Psychiatry evaluates the merits of digital therapy. Christie Nicholson reports.

When Craving Is Better Than Getting

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:08 -0500

A study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that our own calming thoughts can significantly dampen the arousal we feel when we are anticipating positive rewards. Christie Nicholson reports.

Why Are Conservatives Happier Than Liberals?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Conservatives have greater subjective life satisfaction than liberals, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Two New York University researchers performed three studies to find out why. Christie Nicholson reports.

Of Two Minds, One Consciousness

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Studies of split-brain patients provide insight into how we form thoughts--specifically how the left brain will create its own narrative based on information it never received. Christie Nicholson reports.

No Fair! My Serotonin Level Is Low

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 00:00:08 -0500

The chemical messenger serotonin, thought to be implicated in depression and anxiety, may change the way we see fairness in social situations. Christie Nicholson reports.

Craving for Sex May Trip Other Hungers in Men

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Watching women in bikinis tends to make men more impulsive when it comes to monetary decisions. Christie Nicholson reports.

Is Civilization the Result of Humans' Need to Share?

Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:08 -0500

A 2007 study published in Science shows that young human children perform as well as apes on intelligence tests, but that kids beat apes in social skills. The lead researcher explains why this difference is crucial. Christie Nicholson reports.

Our Cars, Ourselves

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Increasingly, GPS and voice-activated systems in cars are turning a fairly private place into an open vessel for our habits--and as such, a possible boon for advertisers. But they are also becoming something else: our counselors

You Say "Ga," I say "Ba," but Everyone Hears "Da"

Mon, 12 May 2008 17:45:08 -0500

A fascinating auditory illusion proves that the visual cue of moving lips plays an important role in accurately hearing what people say.

The Lure of Bette Davis Eyes

Mon, 5 May 2008 11:30:08 -0500

Two scientists from the University of Bremen have found that groups of brain cells within the temporal lobe of macaque monkeys, are not only dedicated to recognizing facial features, but each cell is responsible for specific sub-sets of facial features, like eye size.

In Negotiations, If You Feel Your Opponents' Pain, It May Be Their Gain

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0500

Crucial in any successful negotiation is an accurate understanding of each side's motivations and needs. And although understanding another's needs involves the talent to empathize, research from the journal Psychological Science reveals that feeling another's emotions can be a deal breaker.

Stock Market Winners Get Big Payoff--In Testosterone

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0500

A study of male traders in London reveals an interesting correlation between testosterone levels and success on the trading floor.

World Wide Suicide: A Self-Termination Community Grows on the Web

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:00:08 -0500

An investigation published in the 'British Medical Journal' reveals that Web searches for information on suicide will likely result in links to pro-suicide sites, which often encourage and facilitate suicide and suicidal ideation.

Brain Images Make Inaccurate Science News Trustworthy

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Research published in the April issue of the journal Cognition shows that the colorful brain images created by functional magnetic resonance imaging can give a perceived credibility to an otherwise flawed science news story.

Learn to Be Kind

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500

New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds that we can acquire a greater capacity for compassion through meditation training, in much the same way as athletes or musicians train to improve their skill.